Dates of the 44Th Session of the World Heritage Committee

World Heritage 14 EXT.COM

WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4 Paris, 27 October 2020 Original: English

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE

Fourteenth Extraordinary Session Online meeting 2 November 2020, 12.00 p.m.-3.00 p.m.

Item 4 of the Provisional Agenda: Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee

SUMMARY

This Document is presented in view of the discussions to be held during the 14th Extraordinary session of the World Heritage Committee regarding the holding of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee.

Draft Decision: 14 EXT.COM 4, see Point II.

I. BACKGROUND

1. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge to global governance and UNESCO. Its Members States had to adapt to the exceptional circumstances of this global crisis and its impacts on the implementation of the programme and activities. Governments had to put in place wide-spread lockdown for several weeks or mobility restrictions on an unprecedented scale, with 96% of all worldwide destinations under full or partial restrictions since the end of January 2020. 2. Following their unanimous decision in April 2020 to postpone the 44th session of the Committee to a later date, due to the prevailing situation worldwide, the members of the Bureau of the 44th session have been consulted in writing by the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee on 31 August 2020 on determining the dates of the 44th session. 3. An online Information meeting for all Permanent Delegations to UNESCO regarding the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee was also organized by the Secretariat on 30 September 2020. 4. Subsequently, the Bureau held an online meeting on 16 October 2020 during which it considered that the conditions for a session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020 were not met and suggested that the World Heritage Committee meet as soon as possible in an extraordinary session to decide on the dates of the 44th session. 5. The present document contains in Annex 1 a proposal referred to as “Extended 44th session (Option 5)” which stems from the various aspects of the four options regarding the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee presented during the above-mentioned online Information meeting (see Annex 2). This proposal was designed in order to take into account a number of comments and questions made by States Parties and draws on the advantages of the different possibilities that had been envisaged.

II. Draft Decision: 14 EXT.COM 4

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/20/14.EXT.COM/4,

2. Recalling the extreme exceptional circumstances that prevailed in 2020 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic worldwide,

3. Also recalling Decision 44.COM/BUR.1.3 by which the Bureau of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee, taking into account the prevailing sanitary situation worldwide, including travel restrictions, considered that the conditions for a session of the World Heritage Committee in 2020 were not met,

4. Decides to hold …..

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14.EXT.COM/4, p.1

ANNEX 1

“EXTENDED” 44th SESSION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE (Option n°5)

1 Dec. 1 Feb. June/July June/July 2021 2022 2020 2021

DL SOC DL SOC 45 COM 44 COM reports reports Min.197 SOCs DL NOMS 26 Nom (2019) +

22 Nom (2020)

Rationale: The “extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee” implies the holding of a single session of the Committee in 2021.

Under this option: • The items on the agenda of the 44th session and the items already foreseen for 2021 would be dealt with jointly. • The number of items to be examined would not be doubled compared with a regular session, as the reporting period for regular/recurrent items would be extended from one to two years without any additional documents (see table below). • Duration: The session would be extended by two or three days. • Costs: Based on the longer duration of the session and enhanced agenda, the costs of the session would be increased for the host country, the participants and the Secretariat (as it is the case for option 3), while remaining more cost effective than option 4 (which would imply two sessions within a year). • The number of SOC reports would be increased but not doubled. o For the SOC process, this option would entail that reports foreseen for examination in 2020 would be examined in 2021, together with those already foreseen for 2021. • The number of Nominations: o For the Nomination process this option would entail that nominations foreseen for examination in 2020 would be examined in 2021, together with those already foreseen for examination in 2021 (at least for the ones for which the evaluation missions took place, unless the Committee decides otherwise).

Advantages of the extended 44th session: • The scenario of the extended 44th session would allow for re-establishing the statutory cycles for Nominations and State of conservation as from 2021. • This option would also allow to limit the number of suspended Rules of Procedures. • The 45th session of the Committee would be held in 2022 with an agenda to be decided by the Committee at the end of the extended 44th session in 2021. • The Bureau of the 45th session would be elected at the end of the extended 44th session in 2021.

• Such extended 44th session is proposed on an absolute exceptional basis, due to the unprecedented situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. • The modalities of the extended 44th session are put in place in the particular context of this session and cannot set any precedent for the future.

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14.EXT.COM/4, p.2

ANNEX 1

Table – Proposed provisional Agenda of the extended 44th session

44th session 45th session Extended 44th session (provisional agenda 2020 already adopted) (proposed provisional (proposed provisional agenda agenda 2021) 2021) 1. Opening session idem Idem 2. Admission of Observers Idem Idem 3A. Adoption of the Agenda idem Idem 3B. Adoption of the Timetable idem Idem 4. Report of the Rapporteur of the 43rd 4. Report of the Rapporteur 4. Report of the Rapporteur of session of the World Heritage Committee of the 44th session the 43rd session (Baku, 2019) 5A. Report of the World Heritage Centre on idem idem (report over 2 years) its activities and the implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s decisions 5B. Reports of the Advisory Bodies idem idem (report over 2 years) 5C. Progress report on Priority Africa, idem idem (report over 2 years) sustainable development and World Heritage 5D. World Heritage idem Convention and Sustainable Development 6. Follow-up to the World Heritage idem idem (report over 2 years) Capacity-Building Strategy and Progress report on the World Heritage-related category 2 centres

7. State of conservation of World Heritage idem idem properties

7A. State of conservation of World Heritage idem (Total: +/- 53 SOC idem (Total: 53 SOCs reports + 3 properties inscribed on the List of World reports + 3 general general decisions) Heritage in Danger (Total: 53 SOC decisions) reports + 3 general decisions) 7B. State of conservation of World Heritage idem (Total: 79 SOC reports idem (Total: 197 SOC reports properties inscribed on the World min.) min.) Heritage List (Total: 118 SOC reports) 7C. Draft Updated Policy Document on the 7C. Draft Updated Policy impacts of Climate Change on World Document on the impacts of Heritage properties Climate Change on World Heritage properties

8. Nomination process idem idem 8A. Tentative Lists submitted by States idem idem Parties 8B. Nominations to the World Heritage List Idem (Total: 22 Nominations idem (Total: 26 Nominations for 44 (Total: 26 Nominations) max.) COM + 22 nominations max. originally foreseen for 2021) 8C. Update of the World Heritage List and idem idem the List of World Heritage in Danger 8D. Clarifications of property boundaries and idem idem (received over 2 years) areas by States Parties

8E. Review and approval of retrospective idem idem (received over 2 years) Statements of Outstanding Universal Value 9A. Upstream Process idem idem 10A. Report on the results of the Third cycle of Idem (ARB) the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Arab States

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.3

ANNEX 1

44th session 45th session Extended 44th session (provisional agenda 2020 already adopted) (proposed provisional (proposed provisional agenda agenda 2021) 2021) 10A. Report on the results of idem (AFR) the Third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in Africa

10B. Progress report on the idem implementation of the Action Plan(s) for the 2nd Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the other regions

10B. Progress report on the Third Cycle of idem idem Periodic Reporting in the other regions

11. Follow-up to Recommendations of idem idem Evaluations and Audits on Working Methods and outcomes of the ad-hoc working group

12. Revision of the Operational Guidelines idem idem 13. International Assistance idem idem

14. Presentation of the final accounts of the 14. Report on the execution 14. Presentation of the final World Heritage Fund for 2018-2019, of the budget for the accounts of the World implementation of the World Heritage biennium 2020-2021, Heritage Fund for 2018- Fund under the biennium 2020-2021 and budget proposal of the 2019, Report on the follow-up to Decision 43 COM 14 World Heritage Fund execution of the budget for under the biennium 2022- the biennium 2020-2021, 2023 and follow-up to budget proposal of the World Decision 44 COM 14 Heritage Fund under the biennium 2022-2023 and follow-up to Decision 43 COM 14 15. Other business idem idem 16. Election of the Chairperson, Vice- 16. Election for the 46th 16. Election for the 45th session Chairpersons and Rapporteur of the 45th session session of the World Heritage Committee 17. Provisional Agenda of the 45th session 17. Provisional Agenda of the 17. Provisional Agenda of the of the World Heritage Committee 46th session 45th session

18. Adoption of Decisions idem idem 19. Closing session idem idem = 31 items = 32 items = 34 items

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.4

ANNEX 2

OPTIONS FOR HOLDING THE 44th AND 45th WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE SESSIONS (Support document presented during the online Information meeting of 30 September 2020)

I. BACKGROUND

Following the letter of the Chairperson dated 1 April 2020, a unanimous decision has been reached among Bureau members to postpone the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee to a later date.

Due to the prevailing situation worldwide, the members of the Bureau have been consulted by the Chairperson of the World Heritage Committee on 31 August 2020 on determining the dates of the 44th session.

To assist Bureau / Committee members in their discussions on this matter, the Secretariat has prepared a summary of possible options for holding the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee and an overview of their consequences / implications.

NB. In the charts below: SOC = State of conservation reports NOM = nomination dossiers DL SOC reports = deadline for receiving State of conservation reports from States Parties DL NOMs = deadline for receiving nomination dossiers from States Parties Min. = minimum Max. = maximum

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14.EXT.COM/4, p.5

ANNEX 2

II. OPTIONS

OPTION 1: 44 COM in 2020 (option not retained by the majority of Bureau members during consultations)

End Nov. 1 Dec. 1 Feb. June/July June/July 2022 2020 2020 2021 2021

44 COM DL SOC DL SOC 45 COM 46 COM 177 reports reports Min.135 SOCs DL NOMS SOCs Max.22 NOMs 26 NOMs

OPTION 2: 44 COM in 2021 (one-year shift for all COM meetings as of 2021)

June/July 1 Dec. 1 Feb. June/July 2020 2021 2021 2022

DL SOC DL SOC 44 COM 45 COM reports reports 177 SOCs Min.135 SOCs Max.22 NOMs DL NOMS 26 NOMs

OPTION 3: 44/45 COM in 2021 (44 and 45 COM meetings combined into a single one in 2021, back to normal cycle in 2022)

1 Dec. 1 Feb. June/July June/July 2020 2021 2021 2022

DL SOC DL SOC 44/45 COM 46 COM reports reports Min.257 SOCs DL NOMS 26 + 22 NOMs max

OPTION 4: 44 + 45 COM in 2021 (44 and 45 COM meetings held consecutively in 2021, back to normal cycle in 2022)

1 Dec. 1 Feb. June/July 2021 2020 2021 2022

DL SOC DL SOC reports 44 COM 46 COM 45 COM reports DL NOMS 177 SOCs 26 NOMs Min.80 SOCs Max.22 NOMs

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.6

ANNEX 2

NOTES ON THE OPTIONS

Option 1: 44th session held end November/beginning of December 2020, and 45th session held in June/July 2021 (option not retained by the majority of Bureau members during consultations)

This option has no impact on the Nomination cycle.

For the SOC process, a major consequence would be that a session ending late November/beginning December 2020 would not be in a position to request reports from States Parties for the statutory deadline of 1 February 2021, especially for the properties already inscribed, or to be inscribed during that session, on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

Option 2: 44th session held in June/July 2021, and 45th session held in June/July 2022

For the SOC process, this option would entail that reports foreseen for examination in 2020 would be examined in 2021, and those foreseen for 2021 would only be examined in 2022.

This option would also entail a change in the Nomination cycle as follows: - Nominations received as of 1 February 2019 would be examined in 2021 (instead of 2020 as initially foreseen); - Nominations received as of 1 February 2020 would be examined in 2022 (instead of 2021 as initially foreseen). Such a change in the nomination cycle would imply a suspension of paragraph 168 of the Operational Guidelines related to the timetable for nominations.

Option 3: 44th session and 45th session jointly in June/July 2021

Under this option, the items on the Agendas of the 44th and 45th sessions would be dealt with jointly and the joint session extended by one or two days. As shown in Part III below (Table 1), the number of items to be examined would not be doubled compared with a regular session, as the reporting period for regular / recurrent items would be simply extended from one year to two years without additional documents. However, the number of SOC reports would be increased. On the other hand, the number of Nominations to be examined would be rather similar to what it had been in the past.

It could also be proposed to the Committee that a number of items be recommended for adoption without debate (as this is already the case for at least 75% of the annual SOC reports, and as it is also a current practice at the UNESCO Executive Board). This would lighten the workload during the session.

This Option 3 is the only one which would allow re-establishing the regular cycle for nominations. However, it is to be noted that the Advisory Bodies may not be in a position to evaluate all nominations received by 1 February 2020 due to the prevailing situation worldwide. Hence a decision by the Committee may be required on the principle of examination of nominations, given the fact that not all of them would be ready for examination.

As currently the mandate of the Bureau ends at the end of the 44th session (see Decision 43 COM 16), Option 3 would also require that the Committee decide during its extraordinary session whether it wishes to extend the mandate of the Bureau of the 44th session until the end of the 45th session.

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.7

ANNEX 2

Option 4: 44th session and 45th session held consecutively in 2021

Under this option, the items on the Agendas of the 44th and 45th sessions would be dealt with separately and consecutively. The 45th session would follow the 44th session and its date and location would be decided by the Committee at its 44th session.

As shown in Part III below (Table 2), the agenda of the 44th session would be the one already adopted by the 43rd session in 2019, with reporting periods extended from one to two years for a number of items. The agenda of the 45th session would include: - items related to the holding of an ordinary session (adoption of agenda and timetable, report of Rapporteur, etc.); - items which the Committee, at its previous sessions, requested to examine at its 45th session, including SOC reports (sub-item 7B only, as reports for properties on the Danger List (sub-item 7A) would be examined at the 46th session in 2022); - nominations foreseen for examination at the 45th session.

III. TENTATIVE PROVISIONAL AGENDAS

The following table presents the tentative provisional Agendas for the 44th and 45th sessions of the Committee, according to the three various options described in Part II above.

The provisional Agenda for the 44th session (*) is based on the Agenda adopted by the Committee at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019). The provisional Agenda for the 45th session (**) include recurrent/regular Agenda items examined at each session of the Committee, as well as items which the Committee, at its previous sessions, requested to examine at its 45th session. Lastly, the provisional Agenda for a joint 44th-45th session (***) combines the agendas proposed for the 44th and the 45th sessions.

Table 1

44th session (*) 45th session (**) Joint 44th-45th session (***) in 2020 for Option 1 in 2021 for Option 1 in 2021 for Option 3 in 2021 for Option 2 in 2022 for Option 2 1. Opening session idem Idem 2. Admission of Observers Idem Idem 3A. Adoption of the Agenda idem Idem 3B. Adoption of the Timetable idem Idem 4. Report of the Rapporteur of the 43rd 4. Report of the Rapporteur 4. Report of the Rapporteur of session of the World Heritage Committee of the 44th session the 43rd session (Baku, 2019) 5A. Report of the World Heritage Centre on idem idem (report over 2 years) its activities and the implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s decisions 5B. Reports of the Advisory Bodies idem idem (report over 2 years) 5C. Progress report on Priority Africa, idem idem (report over 2 years) sustainable development and World Heritage 5D. World Heritage idem Convention and Sustainable Development 6. Follow-up to the World Heritage idem idem (report over 2 years) Capacity-Building Strategy and Progress report on the World Heritage-related category 2 centres

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.8

ANNEX 2

44th session (*) 45th session (**) Joint 44th-45th session (***) in 2020 for Option 1 in 2021 for Option 1 in 2021 for Option 3 in 2021 for Option 2 in 2022 for Option 2 7. State of conservation of World Heritage idem idem properties 7A. State of conservation of World Heritage idem (Total: +/- 53 SOC idem (Total: 53 SOCs reports + 3 properties inscribed on the List of World reports + 3 general general decisions) Heritage in Danger (Total: 53 SOC decisions) reports + 3 general decisions) 7B. State of conservation of World Heritage idem (Total: 79 SOC reports idem (Total: 197 SOC reports properties inscribed on the World min.) min.) Heritage List (Total: 118 SOC reports) 7C. Draft Updated Policy Document on the 7C. Draft Updated Policy impacts of Climate Change on World Document on the impacts of Heritage properties Climate Change on World Heritage properties 8. Nomination process idem idem 8A. Tentative Lists submitted by States idem idem Parties 8B. Nominations to the World Heritage List Idem (Total: 22 Nominations idem (Total: 26 Nominations for (Total: 26 Nominations) max.) 44 COM + 22 nominations max for 45 COM.) 8C. Update of the World Heritage List and idem idem the List of World Heritage in Danger 8D. Clarifications of property boundaries and idem idem (received over 2 years) areas by States Parties 8E. Review and approval of retrospective idem idem (received over 2 years) Statements of Outstanding Universal Value 9A. Upstream Process idem idem 10A. Report on the results of the Third cycle Idem (ARB) of the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Arab States 10A. Report on the results of Idem (AFR) the Third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in Africa 10B. Progress report on the idem implementation of the Action Plan(s) for the 2nd Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the other regions 10B. Progress report on the Third Cycle of idem idem Periodic Reporting in the other regions 11. Follow-up to Recommendations of idem idem Evaluations and Audits on Working Methods and outcomes of the ad-hoc working group 12. Revision of the Operational Guidelines idem idem 13. International Assistance idem idem 14. Presentation of the final accounts of the 14. Report on the execution 14. Presentation of the final World Heritage Fund for 2018-2019, of the budget for the accounts of the World implementation of the World Heritage biennium 2020-2021, Heritage Fund for 2018- Fund under the biennium 2020-2021 and budget proposal of the 2019, Report on the follow-up to Decision 43 COM 14 World Heritage Fund execution of the budget for under the biennium 2022- the biennium 2020-2021, budget proposal of the World Heritage Fund under the

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.9

ANNEX 2

44th session (*) 45th session (**) Joint 44th-45th session (***) in 2020 for Option 1 in 2021 for Option 1 in 2021 for Option 3 in 2021 for Option 2 in 2022 for Option 2 2023 and follow-up to biennium 2022-2023 and Decision 44 COM 14 follow-up to Decision 43 COM 14 15. Other business idem idem 16. Election of the Chairperson, Vice- 16. Election for the 46th 16. Election for the 46th session Chairpersons and Rapporteur of the 45th session session of the World Heritage Committee 17. Provisional Agenda of the 45th session 17. Provisional Agenda of the 17. Provisional Agenda of the of the World Heritage Committee 46th session 46th session 18. Adoption of Decisions idem idem 19. Closing session idem idem = 31 items = 32 items = 34 items

Table 2 (for Option 4 only)

The following table presents the tentative provisional Agendas for the 44th and 45th sessions of the World Heritage Committee, should they be held consecutively to each other, as indicated in Option 4 above.

44th session 45th session in 2021 for Option 4 in 2021 for Option 4 1. Opening session 1. Opening session 2. Admission of Observers 2. Admission of Observers 3A. Adoption of the Agenda 3A. Adoption of the Agenda 3B. Adoption of the Timetable 3B. Adoption of the Timetable 4. Report of the Rapporteur of the 43rd session of the World 4. Report of the Rapporteur of the 44th Heritage Committee (Baku, 2019) session 5A. Report of the World Heritage Centre on its activities and the implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s decisions (report over 2 years) 5B. Reports of the Advisory Bodies (report over 2 years) 5C. Progress report on Priority Africa, sustainable development and World Heritage (report over 2 years) 5D. World Heritage Convention and Sustainable Development 6. Follow-up to the World Heritage Capacity-Building Strategy and Progress report on the World Heritage-related category 2 centres (report over 2 years) 7. State of conservation of World Heritage properties 7A. State of conservation of World Heritage properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger (Total: 53 SOC reports + 3 general decisions) 7B. State of conservation of World Heritage properties 7B. State of conservation of World Heritage inscribed on the World Heritage List properties inscribed on the World (Total: 118 SOC reports) Heritage List (Total: 79 SOC reports min.) 7C. Draft Updated Policy Document on the impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage properties 8. Nomination process 8A. Tentative Lists submitted by States Parties

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.10

ANNEX 2

44th session 45th session in 2021 for Option 4 in 2021 for Option 4 8B. Nominations to the World Heritage List 8B. Nominations to the World Heritage List (Total: 26 Nominations) (Total: 22 Nominations max.) 8C. Update of the World Heritage List and the List of World 8C. Update of the World Heritage List and the Heritage in Danger List of World Heritage in Danger 8D. Clarifications of property boundaries and areas by States Parties (report over 2 years) 8E. Review and approval of retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value (report over 2 years) 9A. Upstream Process 10A. Report on the results of the Third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in the Arab States 10A. Report on the results of the Third cycle of the Periodic Reporting exercise in Africa 10B. Progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan(s) for the 2nd Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the other regions 10B. Progress report on the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting in the other regions 11. Follow-up to Recommendations of Evaluations and Audits on Working Methods and outcomes of the ad-hoc working group 12. Revision of the Operational Guidelines 12. Revision of the Operational Guidelines 13. International Assistance 14. Presentation of the final accounts of the World Heritage 14. Budget proposal of the World Heritage Fund for 2018-2019, implementation of the World Heritage Fund under the biennium 2022-2023 Fund under the biennium 2020-2021 and follow-up to Decision 43 COM 14 15. Other business 15. Other business 16. Election of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and 16. Election of the Chairperson, Vice- Rapporteur of the 45th session of the World Heritage Chairpersons and Rapporteur of the 46th Committee session of the World Heritage Committee 17. Provisional Agenda of the 45th session of the World 17. Provisional Agenda of the 46th session of Heritage Committee the World Heritage Committee 18. Adoption of Decisions 18. Adoption of Decisions 19. Closing session 19. Closing session = 31 items = 18 items

IV. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Should an online session be envisaged in case of travel restrictions that may affect the location of the session, the following elements, among others, should be considered: - more than 200 decisions would have to be examined and potentially amended online, including a complex draft decision on the revision of the Operational Guidelines for example; - meeting of working groups (budget, Operational Guidelines) and drafting groups on specific items would have also to be organized online; - conditions of votes would have to be determined (how to deal with secret ballots, for example); - limitation of number of participants connected via online platform; - time differences between regions (Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia and the Pacific for example) would entail sessions not exceeding 2 to 3 hours per day, therefore

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.11

ANNEX 2

extending considerably the duration of the session (for information, during its 43rd session in 2019 the Committee had 60 hours of debate).

Mandate of the World Heritage Committee members: the term of office envisaged under the Convention is of 6 years. However, in 2001, the General Assembly in its Resolution 13 GA 9, paragraph 6, “invite[d] the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention to voluntarily reduce their term of office from six to four years”. While this invitation is not binding upon Member States, in practice it has been followed in the past and since 2005 the elections were organized by the General Assembly on the basis of a four-year rotation. It should be noted that when presenting their candidature for the Committee, States Parties do specify the period of mandate for which they present their candidatures. This term is reflected in official documents presenting the list of candidates for election to the Committee at a specific session of the General Assembly.

All current members of the Committee presented their candidature for a term of 4 years and the General Assembly elected them on this understanding (as indicated in documents WHC/17/21.GA/INF.5A of 17 October 2017 and WHC/19/22.GA/INF.5A.Rev of 25 November 2019). As a result, the decision to hold the 44th session of the Committee in 2021 should not, as such, impact their term of office and the end date of their mandate.

Dates of the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee WHC/20/14EXT.COM/4, p.12